Primary school pupils ‘cleaned for the Queen’ as part of an environmental awareness day to tidy up their borough.

Around 50 pupils and staff from five primary schools across Hyndburn attended Mount Carmel High School in Accrington for the third ‘Eco Champions Day’, with the theme based on ‘human impact on our environment’.

Youngsters took part in a litter pick on local streets and collected an ‘amazing’ 23 sacks of rubbish in just over 30 minutes.

The litter pick was carried out as part of the Keep Britain Tidy ‘Clean for the Queen’ campaign, which aims to get neighbourhoods looking tidy in time for the Queen’s 90th birthday this year.

Sue Fielding, partnership Manager at Mount Carmel, and school science teacher Mr Crighton who co-organised the day, said: “This is the third year we have organised the Eco Champions day and is it proving to be a highlight in the school calendar.

“The schools who attended are already undertaking lots of brilliant environmental projects within their own school communities.

“This day is a perfect opportunity to get together, pool ideas and share good practice.

“All the pupils and staff who attended are committed to improving their environment, through educating their pupils and the wider community about environmental responsibilities.”

Environmental workshops were hosted by Julie Livesey of the Prospects Foundation, with pupils visiting the school’s ‘Garden of Remembrance’.

They discussed how to make environmentally and insect-friendly gardens by including herbs, fruit bushes and edible flowers.

Mr Crichton, who is also the school’s eco-coordinator, then hosted another workshop highlighting the ‘huge amount of waste’ sent to landfill sites and how it can be reused. Youngsters then had a chance to get creative and create models using wooden sticks.

The litter pick was coordinated by Pauline Wood and Jayne Brignall from Hyndburn Homes, who loaned pupils picking equipment and arrnaged for the rubbish to be collected.

The eco-day ended with Mount Carmel pupils planting three apple trees at the Garden of remembrance along with hanging bird food and a bird bath within the wildlife garden area.

Each pupil left with a certificate and an eco-champions badge.

How to get involved in ‘Clean for the Queen’ events:

‘Clean for the Queen’ events to mark the Queen’s 90th birthday have been rescheduled following last week’s snow storms.

Rishton Prospects has re-organised its litter pick along the canal towpath between High Street and Spring Street - a stretch they have officially adopted from the Canal River Trust - to Saturday, March 12.

Colin Cooper, from Rishton Prospects, said all volunteers will be welcome.

He said: “Hopefully we’ll get more than just the Rishton members involved in the clean.”

The team will meet at High Street bridge at 9.30am and litter picking equipment will be provided.

Year 7s and the Year 8 Green Team from Norden High School will also litter-pick the surrounding streets before moving on to clear the picnic site and sports pitches by the canal.